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A few weeks ago we made a start on the follow-up to An Ear To The Earth. I enjoyed making that album so much that I’ve decided to recreate the same atmosphere and record this album in much the same way. So we set up camp in a house at Frenchs Forest for 4 days and captured 10 songs live to an analog tape machine.

Once again Jamie Hutchings (Bluebottle Kiss/Infinity Broke) is sitting in the producers chair and Chris Colquhoun is engineering. The old band members all returned: Scott Hutchings (Drums), Reuben Wills (Bass), Adam Lang (Slide and Banjo) and Jamie Hutchings jumped on his trusty Jazzmaster for electric guitar duties. I’m quietly (super) pleased with the results and will be champing at the bit to share it with you.

It’ll be a while before we’ll have anything to make public – but you should finally see some more activity here at Moldre HQ. Watch out for my new Recording Diary and Studio Pics.

When I first recorded An Ear To The Earth I set a goal of creating a clip for every song on the album. Finally I’ve reached the target. Last Card marks the 10th clip and the conclusion of my Black and White Western Trilogy that began with “Where Will I Be?” and “Bone Orchard”. Last Card was directed by Ben Jones of Red Bird Films.

Hey folks I’ll be heading north to the Hunter Valley with banjo/slide master Adam Lang to play the Sunday Wind Down Exclusive at Dashville for the closing of the Dashville Skyline Cosmic Country Weekender on Sunday October 2nd. You can snag tickets HERE

It’s been awhile. But, finally the songwriting side of my brain is stirring. We had our first stripped back rehearsal for a batch of new songs. Reuben’s Mum was a fine host and made us a grain free lunch and a fine supply of home brewed black coffee. Here’s a pic to prove that we’ve actually made a start. #soitbegins

Heya Folks
Things have been quiet here at Moldre HQ for a while
But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t things a-happening behind the curtain.
Whilst I’ve been trying to awaken the slumbering half of my brain that writes songs
(oh, and there are some new tunes that have made it into my notebook)
I’ve been busy coming up with the next clip in our series from An Ear To The Earth And this means that we only have one to go so that every track on the album has an accompanying clip
This time round my collaborator has been my favourite movie director
My 14 year old daughter Bronte
We worked together on a concept, created a storyboard and designed a costume
Filmed the clip on her iPad – with my banjo/slide players (Adam Lang) young son – William Lang
William certainly deserves an Oscar nod for his performance
Bronte then edited all the footage and assembled it as you see it below
I couldn’t be prouder of the result
So, here’s the new one O, Dreamtime Blues
The closing track from An Ear To The Earth

PS. A few months back I received a message that from a French pastry chef and her staff about how much they enjoyed my new song Madeleine which they’d been playing on YouTube. In fact they said the song was tastier than their very own French Madeleine pastries – I was chuffed so I sent them a copy of the album. Their response has left me speechless.

A few weeks later I received a parcel which contained a bottle of French wine and a USB stick full of all their favourite French music. At the bottom of the box was a letter and a small wooden carving – which was actually a pen knife called on Opinel. Apparently its a French institution that French men and some women carry one for cutting bread or cheese (they receive one at a young age). This particular knife though was purchased from a French artist who will carve your likeness into the handle – he usually refuses to work from a photo but chef’s Severine and Charlotte went to visit him with Beef Bourguignon, Chocolate Cake and a bottle of wine to be sure that he would accept.

My daughter now thinks I’m famous. I’m enjoying that while it lasts. Incredible kindness from wonderful people that I’ve never met on the other side of the globe – it really knocked me off my feet. The Opinel also appears in the new clip!

Hey folks – just a quick update to let you know that I have two shows coming up over the next few weeks. First up I’ll be opening for Tex Perkins and The Dark Horses as they launch their new album “Tunnel At The End Of The Light” at Newcastle Lizotte’s on Saturday 18th July. Multi-instrumentalist Adam Lang will be joining me onstage with his trusty banjo and lap slide. Be quick to snap up a ticket – it’s almost sold out. GET TIX HERE.

It’s been a long while since I’ve returned to Sydney with my band in tow – too long – about 9 months in fact. So to rectify that I’ll be playing a one off show at The Vanguard On Wednesday August 5th. My old friend, producer Michael Carpenter has been hosting a regular night of Alt- Country aptly named The Wild Wild Inner West Review – Michael will be closing the night with his band The Cuban Heels and we’ll also be joined by Bree De Rome and Jason Walker. Tickets are already available HERE.

I’ll be opening for old chum and label mate Bryan Estepa on Saturday May 30th at the Mars Hill Cafe Parramatta – we’ve long talked about doing a show together and finally found a mutually agreeable date. Bryan is a great performer and has just returned from a successful European tour – check out his tour diary here. There’s a rumour going round that we may possibly play a tune together. Tickets are really limited – this is a super intimate venue. Tix can be purchased HERE

Mark Moldre And Adam Lang. Last Ever Show at Lizotte’s Central Coast. Pic By Frankie Kay

Farewell to the Lizotte’s Central Coast Cubby House. Adam and I just played our last show on that stage to a full house with loads of great local acts. $1000 raised for the Cancer Council. Plenty of mixed emotions – that room had become so familiar it seemed like my own lounge room. Kudos and gratitude to Brian and Jo Lizotte for their unwavering support of local artists over the years – and all the best for whatever lies ahead for them….starting with Lizotte’s Newcastle…Onward and upward…

It’s certainly been a while since my last post – here’s a quick round up of all the news.

NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL

The countdown is now on for our shows at The National Folk Festival in the heart of the A.C.T. I’ll be taking the complete band line up with me – we’ll be playing 4 shows across the dates of Thursday April 2nd – Monday April 6th. You can check out the program at the National Folk Festival’s HQ right HERE. We’re also very happy to be joined by special guest drummer (and all round instrumentalist) Michael Carpenter who will be filling in for our regular time keeper Scott Hutchings. We’re looking forward to playing alongside loads of Australian and International acts like Mustered Courage, All Our Exes Live In Texas, Kim Richey, My Friend The Chocolate Cake, Shane Howard and bucketloads more.

AN EAR TO THE EARTH REVIEWED STATESIDE

An Ear To The Earth meets Ear To The Ground (US Music Blog) – obviously that meeting was destiny. It warms the cockles of this old heart to see that even after all this time, An Ear To The Earth is still reaching people – as far as Pennsylvania. Thanks to the folks there for writing such an in depth review.

“Not since I first heard Pokey Lafarge have I been so impressed with an artist’s ability to capture a bygone era. A bit of the 1930s in sonic form, Mark Moldre‘s old soul transports listeners back to the Great Depression’s saddest of speakeasies. It’s quintessential American and straight from Australia. It’s freshly old. It’s minimalistic and full band. This album of contradictions is just what your sophisticated music palate has been dying to hear.”

And even though An Ear To The Earth came out in 2013 – I’ll happily accept coming in at No. 13 on this list alongside Ryan Adams, Kasey Chambers, The Autumn Defense, Sturgill Simpson and more.

MADELEINE

Our latest video creation also received a round of positive reviews including these few listed below:

“Somewhere around the alt.country or acoustica pigeonholes would be the easy option to place Mark Moldre. But his Ear To The Earth album took some tangents from those bases. Madeleine (Laughing Outlaw) celebrates one of those default impossibly cool blondes from old Hitchcock movies – in this case, Kim Novak in Vertigo – with a hushed, almost near jazzy, approach that really deserves a wider audience” TheMusic.Com.Au

“Madeleine is a gorgeous shimmering song like the last lonely sway and shuffle on a deserted dance floor” Post To Wire

“Sydney singer-songwriter Mark Moldre has had a prolific year when it comes to producing new music videos. His latest, “Madeleine”, is the eighth to be taken from his album An Ear To The Earth and is one of the smoothest to date” Timber And Steel

Have you seen the clip yet? Check it out below

SPEED DATE WITH THE BRAG

As the National Folk Festival dates are creeping closer I had a chat with The Brag. You can check it out HERE.

LIZOTTES
I’m sad to say that I’ll be playing my last ever show at Lizottes, Kincumber on Wednesday 15th April. I’ve played so many shows on that stage that it feels like my own lounge room – owner Brian Lizotte has hand picked a final ‘Live And Local’ line up to say farewell as Lizottes closes it’s doors for good – which includes a who’s who of Central Coast acts that have graced the cubby house stage more times than they care to count. We’ll be playing a few songs each. You can book by calling (02) 4368 2017.
Remember if you’d like to keep up with all the latest news as it happens head on over and like our Facebook Page or follow the goings on at Instagram @markmoldre including news about a brand new product from France – a Mark Moldre Pen Knife (otherwise known as an Opinel) – don’t believe us? Check it out HERE

Here we go – the brand new clip to be lifted from An Ear To The Earth. This time round the dark/jazz infused Madeleine gets the video treatment – and this marks the 8th clip to have been created from the Ear To The Earth track list. In keeping with my plan of working with a close circle of talented friends – this time round I asked multi skilled producer/old chum Michael Carpenter to take a seat behind the camera – the result is lush/rich and dripping in atmosphere. The video was shot late one night at Love Hz studios and features the very same line up that recorded the album back in 2013 – including the albums producer (Jamie Hutchings: Infinity Broke/Bluebottle Kiss) The lyrics for Madeleine were scribbled down in a notebook back in the late 90’s and were inspired by Kim Novak’s character in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic Vertigo. I finished the melody and arrangement about 14 years after the song was started.